Sean McClure

Master Sergeant Sean W. McClure, 42, a soldier with the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) died January 5th unexpectedly while on holiday leave. MSG McClure, a resident of Niceville, Florida was born December 19, 1972 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a 1991 graduate of Severna Park Senior High School in Severna Park, Maryland. MSG McClure enjoyed boating, fishing, hunting, and most of all spending time with family and friends. He was an avid Baltimore Ravens and Baltimore Orioles fan. Immediately following high school graduation, he enlisted into the U.S. Army as a Military Police Officer where he served in various MP leadership positions. He volunteered for Special Forces in 1999. MSG McClure attended the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) in 1999. He graduated SFQC in 2001 and was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) as a Special Forces Communications Sergeant. While assigned to 2nd Battalion, MSG McClure deployed to Colombia and Afghanistan. In 2004 he was assigned as a Senior Communications Sergeant in the 7th SFG (A) Commander's In-extremis Force (CIF). While assigned to the CIF, he deployed with ODAs 7335 and 7336 to Colombia, Paraguay, Chile, Iraq, Belize, Trinidad and Tobago and Peru. In 2011 he was assigned to B Company 1st Battalion 1st SWTG (A) where he served as the Senior Writer/lnstructor for Small Unit Tactics (SUT). In January 2014, MSG McClure returned to C Co 2nd Battalion 7th SFG (A) where he served as Team Sergeant for ODA 7234 and was deployed to Honduras. MSG McClure's military education includes the Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Defense Course, Warrior Leader Course, Air Assault, Advance Leader Course, Airborne, Special Forces Qualification Course, Spanish Basic Military Language Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (High Risk) Course, Ranger School, Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance, Target Analysis, and Exploitation Techniques Course, Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course, Senior Leader Course, Airborne Jumpmaster Course, Special Operations Target Interdiction Course, Military Free Fall Parachutist Course and Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Course. MSG McClure's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with V device 2nd OLC, Army Commendation Medal 6th OLC, Army Achievement Medal 4th OLC, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal 6th OLC, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Two Iraq Campaign Medal's, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, Military Freefall Parachutist Jumpmaster Badge, Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge and Legion of Merit Award (Posthumous). MSG McClure is survived by his parents; mother, Maureen Truitt; step-father, Dean Truitt of Salisbury, MD; step-mother Karen McClure Williams; step-father, Michael Williams of Severna Park, MD; his fiancé, Hilda Arnett of Niceville, FL, his sisters, Kristie McClure Martorana,(Scott) of Mountain Lakes NJ and Stacey McClure Hoppel, of Glen Burnie, MD; his brothers, PFC Adam McClure, of Fayetteville, NC and Aaron McClure of Severna Park, MD; and two children, Sean E McClure of Smith Mountain Lake, VA and Dylan Tyler McClure of Fayetteville, NC and; nephew, Merric Martorana and niece, Kason Martorana of Mountain Lakes, NJ. MSG McClure was preceded in death by his father, Gerald Sidney McClure of Severna Park, MD. Family and friends may visit on Friday, January 16, 2015 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Barranco and Sons,P.A Severna Park Funeral Home 495 Ritchie Hwy. Severna Park, MD 21146 and Saturday January 17, 2015 from 9:00 am to 10:00 am at Severna Park United Methodist Church in Severna Park, Maryland, with a full military honor service following at 10:00 am. Interment will be at Lakemont Memorial Gardens, Davidsonville, MD immediately following the church service with full military honor burial. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, www.specialops.org; the Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org; or the Special Forces Association Chapter 7, www.sfa7.com. Online condolences may be made at: www.barrancofuneralhome.com